SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

All qualified United States citizens.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is one of the world's leading statistical agencies, recognized throughout the United States and around the world as a key source for the best and most comprehensive economic statistics available. The data produced by BEA are among the most important tools used in decision-making by policy-makers in the Congress and the executive agencies, including the Council of Economic Advisers, the Federal Reserve, the Office of Management and Budget and the Treasury. BEA's data are also used extensively by private businesses and a wide range of regional organizations, state and local governments, businesses and educational institutions.

Applications under this vacancy announcement will be considered under external competitive procedures only. This vacancy is also being advertised under merit promotion procedures as BEA-IAD-2013-0001.Each announcement requires a separate application using the Census Bureau's on-line application system by logging into http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ and clicking on "Search Jobs." Merit promotion procedures apply to current or previous Federal employees in the competitive service who are eligible for transfer, promotion, reassignment, or reinstatement. Merit promotion procedures MAY also apply to applicants seeking consideration through a special appointing authority such as Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA), Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), Schedule A, etc. Please read the vacancy announcement to determine who may apply.

This vacancy is for a Economist position in the Input-Output Statistics Branch, Industry Applications Division located at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis in Washington, DC.

The incumbent will serve as an economist with responsibility for preparing economic statistics on input, outputs, value added, and final expenditures in the U.S. economy. The incumbent is also responsible for developing and maintaining estimation applications using SQL, C#, and SAS. Other responsibilities include developing improved methods to address limitations in current estimation procedures and gaps in data coverage; interpreting and analyzing economic statistics from variety of sources; providing clear and concise written and verbal communications; assisting with technical issues related to the production of economic statistics; and performing individual research.

BEA has been ranked by its employees as one of the top federal agencies for which to work. It has a dynamic and motivated staff, and encourages professional growth. BEA has an unparalleled location in the heart of downtown D.C., only blocks from the White House and within walking distance to three Metro lines. The Penn Quarter, Logan and Dupont Circles, and the Kennedy and Verizon Centers are all within walking distance. This location provides for a unique balance of intellectual pursuit during the day and wealth of cultural and social activities after work.

This position is in the competitive service.

One year probationary period may be required.

Relocation expenses WILL NOT be paid.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

The Full Promotion Potential of this position is: ZP-III.

If this position is filled at a level below the full performance level, the selectee may be promoted without further competition. This implies no promise or guarantee of a promotion.

This position may be filled through means other than the competitive promotion process.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

You must be a U.S. citizen.

If your resume is incomplete, you will not be considered for this vacancy.

You must be registered with Selective Service if applicable (www.sss.gov).

You must be suitable for Federal employment.

Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Basic Entry Requirements for All Grade or Band Levels:

A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

BAND LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Band II (GS-9 Level) To qualify for the band II (GS-9 level), you must meet the basic requirements listed above and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-7 level) or band II. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: experience applying and using economic and statistical concepts, techniques, and methods; identifying and resolving data abnormalities; estimating and manipulating data; working collaboratively with others or as a part of a team to develop economic statistics or reports and other economic/statistical materials; communicating in person or in writing on economic related topics; and using IT tools to develop computer programs, subroutines, or data processing algorithms.

OR

2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree

Band III(GS-11 Level) To qualify for the band III (GS-11 level), you meet the basic education requirements listed above and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9 level) or band II. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: experience applying and using economic and statistical concepts, techniques, and methods; identifying and resolving data abnormalities; estimating and manipulating data; working collaboratively with others or as a part of a team to develop economic statistics or reports and other economic/statistical materials; communicating in person or in writing on economic related topics; and using IT tools to develop computer programs, subroutines, or data processing algorithms.

OR

A Ph.D. in Economics or you must have three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. in Economics.

Note: To receive consideration for this vacancy, transcripts (unofficial or official) must be faxed in before the closing date. Please refer to the faxing instructions below. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for this position.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation (transcripts, if applicable) to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire that you completed as part of the application and place you in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold," "silver," and "bronze.” However, your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the occupational questions, or your score will be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) for all positions except for Professional and Scientific positions at the grade 9/ band II and above.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

Additional benefits may include flexible work schedule, transportation subsidy, exercise and shower facilities, career development with a generous training program, and more.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp. CTAP/ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. A copy of your specific RIF notice, written notice of your expected separation or other documentation of priority consideration status;

The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

HOW TO APPLY:

Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near on the right side of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.

To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov and place your cursor over “My Account” and then click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.

If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk immediately by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or phone at 866-656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.

MORE THAN ONE POSITION MAY BE FILLED THROUGH THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

**THIS POSITION HAS A POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT; YOU MUST SEND ALL OF YOUR OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM ANY ACCREDITED EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. **

A complete application consists of the following:

*Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must indicate your citizenship and if you are registered for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59. Your resume should also list your education and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s).

*Veterans' Preference documentation. If applicable, please indicate on your resume the type of veterans' preference you are claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 OR Armed Forces certification letter specifying discharge or release from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed, VA letter, SF-15 (revised December 2004 or later), etc.) to validate your claim. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

*Education. If this position requires higher education, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. If using foreign education to qualify, you must submit a certified evaluation of foreign equivalency to comparable U.S. education programs. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found here at http://www.naces.org/members.htm. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://my.usajobs.gov and placing your cursor over “My Account” and then click on "Applicant Status.”

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).